Martian Democratic Party

Martian Democratic Party
Leader	J. Woolley
Chamber Leader	L. Jeffery
Founded	2045
Headquarters	30 Maiden Head Kantar
Political ideology	Liberalism
International affiliation	None

The Martian Democratic Party (abbriviated MDP; formerly the New Martian Democratic Party) is one of the three main political parties in the United States of Mars.

The party were most recently in power from 2075 till 2093 when they lost the presidential and legislative elections, forcing them out of power and moving them into second place in terms of representatives in the Chamber of Representatives.

Along with the Labour and the Times Party, the MDP is one of the three parties to have been in government and has had 6 presidents. The party was founded by Lisa Howard after the country's independence in 2045.

Organisation

The party is ran by the Martian Democratic Central Office, based in Kantar, which is responsible for financing, advertising, election strategy, policy making and selecting candidates for the Chamber of Representatives.

Party membership is the highest of the main three political parties with over seven million registered members. Registration lasts for one year and costs 30 credits or 15 credits for under 25s.

The party's associated colour is blue and the logo is simpely a blue curve known popularly as the 'swipe'. It was apparently designed by Jay Daniels in 2074 in a bar whilst 'doodling on a napkin'.

History

Lisa Howard formed the party in 2045 with a group of 'liberal-minded members' of the independence movement. The party went on to win the 2045 elections with Howard in both chambers of parliament as well as the presidential election. Howard was forced to resign the presidency in 2046 after bribery allegations arose which caused Henry Game to be placed as party leader and president. Public trust in the party was shattered and Game lost the presidential election later that year.

The MDP supported Jackson's created of the Chamber of the People as well as the created of the National Health Association in 2050.

After twelve years of public mistrust, Tessa Green won the 2058 elections for the party and brought it back into power. It was at this point that Green removed the 'new' from the party's name. Green's presidency was defined by her handling of the building union crisis in which the powerful Building and Construction Union went on strike after Green refused to give in to their demands. Although an agreement was eventually worked out, Green lost the election in 2062 to the Labour Party.

Jay Daniels

From 2065, the Martian Democrats were increasingly unorganised and unpopular. Splits in the party led to what should have been an easy win in the 2071 election to a spectacular defeat to the Times Party.

During the leadership contest later that year one of the main candidates, Michael Brown, died leaving a large part of the party to feel they were without representation in the contest. Jay Daniels, a member of Brown's team stood forward as a candidate, branding himself as 'new, modern, young and idealistic'. His new ideas and was of thinking won him the leadership of the party and helped to unify it.

Daniels was unlike any leader before him. Him and his wife were soon transformed into almost celebrities and his fashionable and attractive image increased his fame across Mars. Merchandise created was sold quickly and caused the party to accumilate great funds over a short space of time and allowed a large scale advertising campaign.

The weakened Paddock government was given constant opposition in the form of Daniels and some of his most famous quotes are from debates and comfrontations inside the Chamber of Representatives. This, along with several other popular initiatives, won the MDP a landslide victory in 2075, propelling Daniels in government.

Daniels presidency was defined by four major issues: foreign relations, education, the economy and constitutional reform. His government was instrumental in the created of the new Mars Treaty Organisation and he brought the USM to the forefront of Martian politics.

The terrorist attacks on the Parliament building in 2080 and the subsequent attack on the MTO space station forced Daniels to declare war on Mirror Mars and become a war president. His handling of the war and his eventual victory caused him to reach an almost iconic status and a wave of popularity spread across Mars.

His rebuilding programs and handling of the economy after the war caused what has been called a 'golden age' on Mars. The USM was propelled to become of the richest and leading nations on Mars this caused Daniels to easily win the 2083 elections.

Daniels defined his third term by trying to re-establish relations with Earth nations. His address to the United Nations in 2084 allowed all Martian nations to be recognised by the UN and gave them the same rights as Earth nations. Due to his work on Earth, Daniels became arguably the most famous person on both Mars and Earth and his popularity grew even further.

Mars one morning in 2085 to the news that Daniels had been assasinated whilst being driven through Luvron. His motorcade was attacked by a van carring explosives belonging to anti-Earth extremists. The country was shocked and millions of people decended on Kantar for his funeral. At one point, the roads outside Kantar House had to be closed due to the amount of flowers being placed.

After Daniels

Vice-President Murray won the elction later that year in a landslide and she continued Daniels work on local and regional governmental reform. Her government is generally seen as a continuation of Daniels' as her cabinet contained many members of his and her policies were generally identical. She declined to run for a second term in the 2089 elections and Vice-President J. Woolley was elected as presidential candidate.

If Murray's presidency was a continuation of Daniels', Woolley's was turning over a new leaf. His more right wing policies took a step away from the previous administration and he presided over a significant increase in armed forces funding. He also started reform in the National Health Association which was seen as being overlooked in the previous administrations. He also amended the constitution, creating fixed elections every four years.

Woolley lost the election in 2093 to the Labour party and the MDP was forced into second place in the Chamber of Representatives.

Thirteen Point Policy

The Martian Democratic's policies under Woolley have become more right wing than under the Murray administration. In the 2093 election, the party outlined thirteen points which it stands for.

• An increase in military funding and more general support for the armed forces.
• State, regional and local government must be introduced, intregrated and supported.
• Foreign energy sources can be relied on to support the country.
• Green taxes must be introduced.
• Reform of the NHA must be continued.
• Only immigrants who are skilled and benefit the country should be accepted.
• The powers of police should be increased.
• The relationship with Martian states should be strengthened.
• The minimum wage should be reduced.
• Taxes should be cut wherever possible.
• Transportation should be privatised.
• The powers of unions should be curbed.
• Utilities should be privatised.

Leaders of the Party

(*) indicates that person held the office of president.

See Also

• United States of Mars